Ready, Set, Go!

Southland Times, Issue 21662, 26 March 1932, Page 15

Ready, Set, Go!

' PROMINENT PRO’S. PARAGRAPHED. ! Arranged in alphabetical order, thumbnail sketches of many of the professional run- \ ners seen in action throughout the South- | land circuit during the season just concluded. appear below as follows: Aitken, L.: This season marked the occasion of Aitken’s blossoming out as a pro- : fessional for the first time. For a new- : comer this Invercargill runner displayed surprising ability over long distances and success came his way in his first turn-out. This was at Edendale where he won the , BSO on the tape in a great finish. At

Limehills he came second in the 880 and third in a similar event at Tuatapere. At Wairio off a handicap of 35yds he won the 880 in Imin 57 2-ssec, considered good time until it was discovered that the track was 40yds short of the required distance. Running at the same fixture, he secured a third placing in the mile. Experience and careful training should cause Aitken to excel at future sports.

Archer, W.: For over seven years now Archer has been a prominent performer at Southland sports meetings, his specialty being long distance work. Four years ago he was a splendid mile runner, clocking 4.27, but he has slowed up since. Not- that he neglects training, for he is an enthusiastic member of the Pioneer Athletic Club, Gore. This season he was generally to be found near the scratch mark, but notwithstanding was fairly successful. Off the 25yd mark in the mile at Edendale he won this event in 4min 39 4-ssec. Competing subsequently at Wyndham, Balfour and Wakaka, he ran eecond in the 880 at each centre. At Tuatapere he made a bid for the 880 championship title but, although he led for part of the distance, was unable to withstand a challenge in the run home from R. E. Hor mann, to whom Archer ran second. Archer appeared later at Riversdale and Lumsden to gain a third in the mile event in each case.

Bates, C. A. and T. N.: Neither a good athlete, the Bates Brothers from Merrivale were once again competitors this season. C. A. did not come into the prize-money, but T.N. met with a slightly better return. At Drummond he gained third placings in the 100 yards maiden race and the 440. Although he won his heat he was unplaced in the final of the 130 yards hurdle race at Wairio. Competing in a similar event at Browns he managed to secure a third.

Blaikie, L.: The running sport did not see much of Blaikie this season. The Ryal Bush man was once an unusually good sprinter, being a fast man out of the holes, but is now on the decline. A win in the 440 at Drummond was his only performance of note.

Briggs, E.: Since he joined the ranks of the professionals over a year ago Briggs has shown remarkable improvement and this his second season was even more successful than his first. Over distances from a quar ter to a half-mile he is seen at his best. He is a strong runner, possessing a good style, and is a decided acquisition to the Pioneer Athletic Club, Gore. Second 'in the halfmile was his placing at both Otautau and Edendale. He did well to win the halfmile at Roxburgh and colne third in the 440. At Waikaka he was third in the 440yds Greenvale Handicap and at Port Molyneux he won the quarter. Second was his placing in the 440 at both Riversdale and Browns, Cartwright, G.: Coming down from Ashburton for the first time, Cartwright found the opposition in Southland rather too strong in the sprint events in which he was a competitor. He possesses speed, but lacks finishing effort, this probably accounting for his lack of success down here. He won his Sheffield heat at Wyndham in slow time, but was not among the placed men in the final. He was most prominent at Balfour where he won the 75 yards Ardlussa Flying Handicap and came third in both the Sheffield and 220.

Cochrane, G. G.: Comparatively little was seen this season of Cochrane who, now in ■ his fourth year as a cash runner, has been well placed in past meetings. Ho hails from Lillburn Valley and has been a good all-round runner. This season, however, he | was not very successful, and showed signs

of want of training. Competing at Otautau, he came third in both the 880 and mile. At Wairio he was second in the mile and unplaced in the final of the 75. He had three wins at Browns last year, but at this season’s fixture gained only two seconds, these being in the 120yds hurdle race and in the 880.